Bronx-born Frankie Warren Knuckles Jr. first honed his DJ skills in NYC, eventually moving to Chicago in the late '70s as the disco scene was dying down. Along with a group of house music innovators, Knuckles went on to become a hero overseas in Europe's rave-oriented club scene.

Also a producer, Knuckles recorded house versions of Jamie Principle's "Your Love" and "Baby Wants to Ride." He co-founded Def Mix Productions with DJ David Morales, and eventually went on to work with some of the music industry's biggest stars, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode, and Diana Ross.

Knuckles once told the Tribune in an interview why he championed house music. He felt as if the dance floor was a "safe haven" for the communities -- African-American, gay, and Hispanic -- that first welcomed him in the '70s and '80s. "God has a place on the dance floor," Knuckles reflected to the paper. "We wouldn't have all the things we have if it wasn't for God. We wouldn't have the one thing that keeps us sane -- music."

"It's the one thing that calms people down."

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